PALANGKA RAYA – ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP BUREAU. Public Communication Team of Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Handling Task Force delivered a Press Release for Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Task Force Team, Wednesday (17/02/2021) until 03.00 p.m. (Western Indonesian Time) in Central Kalimantan regarding the development in handling Covid-19 pandemic.

Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Handling Task Force through Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Task Force said that to prevent new clusters, it is important to protect vulnerable populations from being exposed to Covid-19.

These new clusters were found in several areas in population groups that have similar characteristics, namely assisted residents in an organization who live together. Such as the elderly in nursing homes, children in social institutions/ foster homes and prisoners. Even though they have limited mobility, they are risky because they live together with very close distance. Such a population is declared vulnerable by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to certain special situations. In addition, other populations that are also stated vulnerable include the elderly, comorbid sufferers, women, pregnant women, workers in informal sectors, children and even people who have to undergo routine treatment such as persons with disabilities and HIV positive patients.

There are several reasons for the vulnerability of a population to being exposed to Covid-19. First, vulnerability will increase if you live in crowded and improper places. Second, low access to clean water and unhealthy environment. Third, high dependence on daily wages so that high mobility is required. Fourth, low access to health services. Fifth, food vulnerability and malnutrition. Sixth, being in an environment of armed conflict and violence. And seventh, part of the marginalized groups and minorities.

For these reasons, the Covid-19 Handling Task Force Team invites all communities to work together, especially the local posts. Namely, village officials and village partners such as Satlinmas, Babinsa, Babinkamtibmas, and community leaders to make anticipatory efforts to prioritize vulnerable populations both through health promotion that adjusts the characteristics of each population, as well as the availability of facilities and infrastructure that support health protocols compliance.

Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Handling Task Force Team also said that the addition of positive cases was due to the transmission occurring in the communities. For this reason, the Central Kalimantan Covid-19 Handling Task Force Team constantly reminds all related parties and the public to always be disciplined in implementing the 4M health protocols in their daily lives; wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining distance, and avoiding crowds.

This compliance must be implemented in every activity and daily life in the communities. Don’t be slack to Covid-19. It is hoped that the Covid-19 Task Force in the regencies/municipality will not hesitate to take action against people who still ignore health protocols according to applicable regulations. Remember, the discipline and compliance of health protocols can protect ourselves and our closest families and relatives from Covid-19 transmission.

Furthermore, the development of Covid-19 data which has been collected by its accumulation on February 17, 2021 is presented at 03.00 p.m. (Western Indonesian Time). It showed that there have been 13 regencies and 1 municipacility being affected. In the confirmation case, there were 32 people confirmed, namely 14 people in Palangka Raya, 6 people in West Kotawaringin, 2 people in Lamandau, 4 people in Kapuas, 1 person in East Barito, and 5 people in Murung Raya, so that from the initial number of 12,851 people increased to 12,883 people.

There were an increase of 52 people of patients recovered, namely 16 people in Palangka Raya, 1 person in Katingan, 7 people in West Kotawaringin, 6 people in Lamandau, 18 people in Kapuas, 1 person in South Barito, 1 person in East Barito and 2 people in North Barito, so that from the beginning 11,574 people increased to 11,626 people.

Meanwhile, there were 17 people increased in Suspected case, so that from the initial 216 people increased to 233 people. In the Probable case, 3 persons increased, so that from the initial 65 people to 68 people. While there is a decrease of 21 people for the number of patients in treatment, so that from the initial 937 people decreased to 916 people.

In the case of death, there was an addition of 1 person, namely 1 person in East Barito, so that from the initial 340 people became 341 people. The death rate (CFR) was 2.6%. The specimens increased by 120 people, so that from the initial 103,508 specimens to 103,628 specimens. (dew/translated by feb)